Apparatus for refining metals.



PATENTED DEC. 15, 1903.

' A. SGHWARZ.

APPARATUS FOR REPINING METALS! APPLIGATION FILED APR. 19, 1903.

2 SHEBTSSHBET 1.

N0 MODEL.

ATTORNEY WITNESSES. m .0 (9m 6*. 9

Nb. 746;748. PATENTED DEGQlfi, 1903.

A. scfiwluiz. APPARATUS FOR REPINING METALS.

APPLIOATION FILED APR IO, 1903. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR" J (9% X? Gm.

/,4' ATTORNEY Bio. 746,748.

UNITED STATES Patented December 15, 1903.

ALFRED SCHWARZ, OF NEW YORK, N.'Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE GENERAL METALS REFINING COMPANY, OF YORK, N. Y., A CORPORA- TION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,748, dated. December 15, 1903. Application filed April 10, 1903. Serial No. 151,954. (No model.)

To all whom it may cancer-n:

Be it known that I, ALFRED Sonwnnz, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, and a resident of New York'city, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Electrolytic Refining of Metals, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a plant or system for the electrolytic refining of metals, and par ticularly copper.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient arrangement of tanks in which to carry on the electrolytic action in such relation to each other and to provide means for the circulation of the electrolyte and the removal of the slimes that the refining may be rapidly and completely effected in an economical manner.

In accordance with the stated object of the invention I so organize a series of tanks in tiers that the solution containing the metal to be refined is permitted to flow from the lower part of the uppermost tank to the next lower series of tanks, and so on, and interpose a filter in the path of the flow of the solution toretain the slimes, thereby eliminating the agitation of the solution and main: taining a substantially uniform densityof the solution in any given tank.

In attempts to obtain an even and increased deposition of the metal throughout the'refining-tanks various means have been employed to maintain the solution in circulation. Here tofore, so far as I am aware, this circulation has been effected by having an overflow-pipe at the top or uppermost part of the tank. Such means, however, permits the heavy part of the solution to settle in' the lower part of the tank, largely increasing the resistance and resulting in a waste of current and uneven deposits. With an overflow-pipe at the upper part of the tank slimes containing already-separated metals and impurities settle in thebottom of the tank, necessitating a suspension of the refining operation at intervals in order that the tanks may be cleaned.

It is well known that a rapid circulation of the solution is beneficial to the electrolytic action; but heretofore in practice the rapidity of the circulation has been checked in order to avoid a disturbance of the slimes.

Figure 1, in endelevation and partly in section,represents a form and arrangement of tanks for carrying out my invention. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the appa ratus shown in Fig. l; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of a portion of one of the tanks on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the drawings,

timately flows after having passed through the refining-tanks and in which it may be heated to any suitable temperatu re by wellknown means. A conducting-pipe 2 leads from the tank 1 to a pump 3, the latter being the numeral 1- designates a tank to which the electrolyte ulof any suitable form and of a capacity suffi- V cient to insure the proper circulation of the solution. The outlet-pipe 4 from the pump diverges bysuitable branches 5 to each tank of the u ppermost tier,said branches discharging into the top of the tank,

, In the drawings I have shown only two tiers of tanks; but it is obvious that there may be a greater number of tiers. .One essential of the arrangement is that the solution shall (1is charge from the pump into the top of the uppermost tanks and flow thence out of the lower part to the top of the next lower tank, and so on in the same way,whatever may be the number of tiers.

The refining-tanks 6 may be of any suit- I able construction, preferably of wood, properly stayed in a well-known manner. They are preferably rectangular in shape and of a size to contain sufficient solution for the proper working of the electrolytic action. In view of the manner of arranging the electrodes in the tank I dispense with lead-lined tanks and make the tanks double-walled, as shown in the drawings, and fill the space between the two walls with pitch 25 or other suitable materiaL, The tanks are arranged as shown in the drawings-that is, in tiers -so that the solution from the uppermost tank will flow into the next lower tank.

I construct each tank with compartments 22 at its ends, the fiow of the solution from the refining portion of the tank into the compartments 22 being controlled by valves 23, seated in openings at the lowest point of the tanks. Said valves may be operated through suitably-connected hand-levers 24:. Each compartment 22 is provided with a suitable outlet 14, located in the bottom of said compartment, said outlet being controlled by an ordinary form of float-valve 7, which is so regulated as to maintain a practically constant level of the solution in the tank, but at the same time to permit such intermittent outflow from the bottom of the tank as to keep the solution in the succeeding tanks at substantially the same density. This can be easily effected by regulating the size of the float 8 and by properly proportioning the parts.

The hand-valves 23 are normally open, so as to permit of constant flow from the refining-compartment to the compartments 22, the said valves being closed only when the filters are removed to be cleaned. By having compartments 22 at each end of the tank it will be noted that when one of the valves 23 is closed the other may remain open, so that the circulation of the solution through the tank is not interrupted.

Each tank rests in a trough-like support 9, andeach discharges into its trough through the valve 7. Discharge-pipes 10 lead from each trough 9 to a tank in the next lower tier.

' Filters 11 of any known or suitable construction, located in the trough 9 below the outletvalves 7, retain any separated metals and the slimes, thus permitting only a clear solution to flow from one tank to another. After passing through all of the tanks the solution passes finally to the heating-tanks 1, from whence it is raised by the pump 3 to pass again through the tanks.

The electrodes may be of any usual or wellknown form. As to their arrangement, how ever, I prefer to employ that described in my application, Serial No. 132,437, filed November 22, 1902, in which the cathodes are made of strips or plates and arranged at an angle to the face of the anode. The anodes 26 are of such size as to extend completely between the side walls of the refining-tanks, being held in position by suitable retaining-blocks 27.

The bottoms of the refining-tanks 6 are made V or trough like, so that the electrodes do not rest upon the bottoms of the tanks, leaving a clear space 28 for the circulation of the solution. The electrodes, if desired, do not extend to the top of the tank, space being left, as clearly indicated at 29 in Fig. 1, for the solution to completely submerge the electrodes. The trough-like formation of the bottom of the tanks and the extension of the anodes between the side walls prevents the washing of the solution along the side edges of the anodes and the sides of the tanks and forms a ready means for the rapid vertical circulation of the solution between the electrodes and aifords excellent provision for the ready removal of the heavy part of the solution and of the slimes from the bottom part of therefining-tanks through the valves 7.

A convenient form of connection between the conductors and the anodes is shown in the drawings as consisting of a block of conducting metal made in the form of an angle 3 L, one arm of which rests on the conductor 35, running along the top edge of the tank, and the other bears upon the top of the anode. The said block is made heavy enough so as not to be readily displaced.

The troughs 9 may be provided with doors 30 for the ready removal and insertion of the filters 11.

According to the invention as above de scribed the solution may be kept at a practically uniform temperature and density throughout. The electrolytic action is facilitated by reason of the rapidity of the circulation, and the solution is kept clean and free from slimes, resulting thereby in an even and increased deposit of metal. Inasmuch as the tanks are kept practically free of slimes much time is saved, as there is no necessity to suspend the refining operation for the purpose of cleaning out the tanks. The filters can be readily removed at any time without interfering with the regular refining operations for further treatment of the slimes to recover any metals that may be contained in them.

In order to quickly ascertain the electrical conditions existing at any given pair of electrodes, I provide the means shown in Fig. 2, in which 18 designates any convenient form of switchboard having contact-plates 2O thereon. These contact-plates 20 are connected by suitable wires 31 to the anodes of the refining-tank. The cathodes are all connected up by wires to a main line 32, running to a voltmeter 21, the latter being connected bya wire 33 to themovable arm 19 of the switch. When the arm 19 is moved so as to close the circuit through the voltmeter and through any given pair of electrodes, as 15, 16, or 17, the exact condition existing between said electrodes may be instantly determined. This affords'a quick and efficient means for the purpose stated and avoids the necessity of an attendant carrying a measuring instrument and going from pair to pair of the electrodes. By myinvention the only work required is the turning of the arm to the desired contact-plate. I do not in this application, however, claim the above-described means for quickly determining the electrical conditions.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is' t 1. An apparatus of the character specified consisting of refining-tanks arranged in tiers, each refining-tank having an outlet at the bottom, said outlet discharging into the next lower refining-tank, an automatically-conconsisting of refining-tanks arranged in tiers,

each refining-tank having an outlet at the bottom, said outlet discharging into the next lower refining-tank, an automatically-controlled valve to govern the outflow through said outlet, a filter located in the dischargeoutlet of the tank, and a pump to deliver the solution to the uppermost tier.

4. An apparatus of the character specified consisting of refining-tanks arranged in tiers each refining-tank having an outlet at the bottom, said outlet discharging into the next lower refining-tank, an automatically-controlled valve to govern the outflow through said outlet, a receiving-tank to receive the solution from the lowermost tank and a pump to convey the solution from said receivingtank to the uppermost tank.

5. An apparatus of the character specified consisting. of refining-tanks arranged in tiers, each refining-tank having an outlet at the bottom, said outlet discharging into the next lower refining-tank, a filter located in each outlet, a float-valve in each tank to control the flow of the solution, a tank to receive the solution from the lowermost refining-tank, and a pump to convey the solution from said receiving-tank to the uppermost of the refiningtanks.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SCHWARZ.

Witnesses:

GRACE L. DEASLEY, O'r'ro P. OSMERS. 

